Secex: Brazilian corn exports in August reach highest monthly volume in almost 2 years.
The largest shipments were driven by a record second harvest this year.
By Roberto Samora
SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian corn exports in August grew 13% compared to the same month last year, reaching 6,85 million tons, the highest monthly volume since November 2023, according to data from the Foreign Trade Secretariat (Secex) published this Thursday.
That month, Brazil, the world's second-largest exporter of corn, exported 7,4 million tons of the grain.
The largest shipments last month were driven by a record second harvest this year, but fell short of expectations released the previous week by the National Association of Cereal Exporters (Anec).
Nevertheless, Anec stated in a report this Thursday that cereal exports gained "momentum" in August, a period when they are traditionally stronger with the arrival of the harvest.
"The main traditional importers have begun to intensify their purchases, and the profile of monthly destinations already shows signs of diversification. Countries such as Egypt, Vietnam, and Iran have been increasing their volumes, taking advantage of the greater supply and competitive prices of Brazilian corn," said Anec.
The association noted that China, with larger stocks, is expected to demand less imported corn this year, but resumed its purchases in August, accumulating 707 tons in the year up to last month, or 4% of the total exported by Brazil in 2025. The largest buyer is Iran, accounting for 22% of exports.
On the other hand, Brazilian corn has faced "strong competition" from US corn, which is projected to have a record harvest in 2025, limiting the pace of Brazilian exports, noted a Rabobank report this week.
Data on Brazilian agricultural commodity exports also confirmed strong exports of fresh beef, with a 23,5% increase compared to the same period last year, reaching almost 270 tons, in the month in which Mexico became the second largest destination, surpassing the United States, according to data from the Abiec association released previously.
This move comes amid higher tariffs on Brazilian beef, while Brazil, the world's largest exporter, is facing a rearrangement of global exports in the wake of Donald Trump's tariff hikes and is working to expand into other markets.
In the case of coffee, which was also taxed by the US government, the drop was 31% in August, to around 143 tons, with Brazilian exporters stating that US importers requested postponements of shipments due to the uncertainties generated by the tariffs.
Besides corn and beef, another positive highlight of exports was sugar, which recorded its highest monthly export in almost a year, with 3,74 million tons, with mills in the central-south region allocating more sugarcane to sweetener production. In August of last year, the figure was 3,9 million tons.
Meanwhile, Brazilian poultry meat exports saw their first monthly increase in August compared to the same month last year since March, according to data from Secex, after the sector was affected for much of the year by embargoes resulting from an outbreak of avian influenza in May.
Shipments of fresh poultry meat increased 5,1% in August compared to the same month last year, reaching 374 tons, with most importers resuming purchases.
